August 4, 2008

The Corpus Christi IceRays announced today three more key player signings for the 2008/2009 hockey season. Pat Dunn, General Manager announced today that Defenseman Chris Mei and forwards Adam Powell and Chris Shaffer will return to play again for the Corpus Christi IceRays. Dunn said, “We obviously have been working hard to keep a good core of existing players and then add a new group of proven winners as well. These three great IceRay players along with Justin Qunneville will really give Coach Cloutier a leg up in his continued recruiting effort and his effort to bring a winner back to Corpus Christi. Mei, Powell and Shaffer, while not only fan favorites were awesome players on the ice as well. We really feel these guys give us the opportunity to win and win soon. You will see IceRays players all over the community to show the quality of players and people these guys are.”

Adam Powell said, “Corpus Christi is a great city with great fans. With this new ownership group I feel hockey will have a real presence again in Corpus Christi. How can you not want to play for these guys with all they have done to save hockey in the coastal bend. This was an easy decision for me and I can’t wait to get back there and get started winning.”

Chris Mei added, “The fans in Corpus Christi deserve a winner and I am not leaving until we have one. Mr. Lange, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Chesney have made a real commitment to hockey in Corpus Christi and I believe soon Corpus Christi will be regarded as one of the best places to play and I want to continue to be a part of that. It is time to get after it and bring a winner to Corpus Christi.”

Chris Shaffer echoed his team mates feelings, “If you play professional sports or sports at any level, you want to win. Many of us who have been here feel with this ownership group, the core guys coming back, the ability Coach Cloutier has and the new guys that the team is talking to, that we now have a real chance to win and to win now. That is why I play hockey. I love the game and I want to win. The new owners do to and seem willing to do what it takes to do so. That is exciting to me.”

Brent Chesney, VP and General counsel said, “Again, Pat Dunn continues to do an outstanding job at making sure we have a chance to win. These are great signings and I am excited about the job Pat is doing. Tim Lange and I have made it clear that putting a winner on the ice is incredibly important. To do that we must bring in great players and a great coach. We have done that with Coach Cloutier and with these signings and Justin Quennville. To get quality players to stay we have to treat them right and create a system where all over the league players tell each other Corpus Christi is the place to be.”